City Council approves aid to 'Ilong Tuwapos'

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has approved an ordinance providing financial assistance to all registered “Ilong Tuwapos” in the city.

Ilong Tuwapos refers individually or collectively to child or children residing in the city below 18 years old or 18 years old or above but are unable to take care of themselves because of physical or mental disability or condition and whose both parents have already died at the time of the effectivity of the ordinance, and who is or are under the custody and care of a guardian.

Authored by Councilor Phillip Zafra, the ordinance is entitled “Ilong Tuwapos Ordinance.”

“The City of Cebu is cognizant of its crucial role and the delicate importance of family hereby gives its full support to every child, especially orphans, in achieving their full potential and development in becoming a productive member of the Cebu City community,” read the ordinance.

The objective of the measure is to qualify “Ilong Tuwapos” of other benefits on health, education, and other social amelioration programs, present and future, for its constituents as may be appropriate and applicable.

Section 4 states that to qualify for the assistance, the child must be an actual resident of the city as certified to by the barangay captain where he/she resides for at least six months at the time of registration under the care of a guardian; must be below 18 years old, 18 years old, or above but are unable to take care of himself or herself because of physical or mental disability or condition; among others.

An “Ilong Tuwapos” child shall receive cash assistance and other benefits provided that he/she has duly registered with the city’s Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) upon compliance of the requirements which include application letter signed by the child or his/her guardian; duly filled-up application form; Certificate of Live Birth issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority or by the City Registrar’s Office; Certificate of Death of both father and mother of the child issued by the PSA or CRO; to name a few.

For monitoring, evaluation, and other purposes, the DSWS shall establish a profile and list of qualified “Ilong Tuwapos” and shall regularly update the same on annual basis on such manner, date, and timing as may be provided in the Internal Rules and Regulations.

The qualified child shall receive a financial assistance from the city government in the amount of not less than P1,000 monthly.

Other benefits and privileges from the city government are priority in basic and technical and skills and other non-formal educational scholarship programs; priority in regular and adequate psychological or psychosocial counseling for its over-all development and potential; priority in free and comprehensive mental, physical, health and dental care, laboratory testing and equipment services including medicines, immunization, vaccines, and supplements; priority for employment in the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for those who have reached 18 years and who are not suffering from physical or mental disability or condition provided he still resides in the city and a registered voter, among others.

Section 8 provides that the financial assistance, benefits and privilege stated in the ordinance shall be terminated upon the death of the child; upon reaching the age of 18, unless the child is unable to take care of himself or herself because of physical or mental disability or condition; transfer of residency of the child outside of Cebu City; transfer of residency of the guardian outside of Cebu City; and failure to renew its registration without prejudice to its re-application in the next succeeding year after its renewal.

The DSWS, together with the Office of the City Administrator, City Legal Office, City Treasurer, City Health Department and other concerned offices, within 30 days from the effective date of the ordinance, shall formulate and establish the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to give effect to the full implementation of the ordinance.

The city government, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations, shall regularly appropriate funds in its annual budget allocation necessary and required for the measure’s full implementation. — FPL (FREEMAN)